If the Jacksons were Jehovah's Witnesses back then why did they celebrate Christmas? Figure out this one guys.

Answer 1

The family of the so-called "Jackson 5" have long been associated with Jehovah's Witnesses, but it is certainly not true that most of them were actual baptized Witnesses.

Jehovah's Witnesses love and respect and honor Christ. They do NOT celebrate so-called "Christmas" because "Christmas" does NOT celebrate Christ; "Christmas" celebrates the pagan Saturnalia. Jesus was not even born in December. Nearly all so-called Christmas customs dishonor Christ.

http://watchtower.org/e/19981215/article_02.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/20001215/
http://watchtower.org/e/20041215/article_01.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/19981215/
http://watchtower.org/e/rq/article_11.htm


By contrast, it's tragic that the one holiday Christ actually *DID* ask Christians to commemorate is entirely ignored by almost all of Christendom. It is, of course, the Memorial of Christ's death, sometimes called "the Last Supper" or "the Lord's Evening Meal".

(1 Corinthians 11:23-25, NWT) The Lord Jesus in the night in which he was going to be handed over took a loaf... Keep doing this in remembrance of me.” 25 He did likewise respecting the cup.. Keep doing this... in remembrance of me.”

(1 Cor 11:24, 25, NEB) "Do this as a memorial of me.”


Christ Jesus himself personally celebrated and explained the significance of that Last Supper to his followers (see Matthew 26:26-29). Christians who commemorate the Last Supper have done so on the same Jewish calendar date as Jesus did, Nisan 14, which generally falls between late March and mid-April. Interestingly, Christians in the centuries immediately after Christ's impalement were sometimes called "Quartodecimans" which literally mean "Fourteen-ers", because the early Christians were well-known for this true holy day.

How would Jesus feel to learn that the holiday he commanded was widely ignored, while his so-called followers chose to celebrate a pagan false god and their own traditions of men? We don't need to wonder.

(Matthew 15:6-9) You have made the word of God invalid because of your tradition. 7 You hypocrites, Isaiah aptly prophesied about you when he said, 8 ‘This people honors me with their lips, yet their heart is far removed from me. 9 It is in vain that they keep worshiping me, because they teach commands of men as doctrines.’”

Learn more:
http://watchtower.org/e/lmn/article_08.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/rq/article_11.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/20041215/article_02.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/20011115/article_02.htm
http://watchtower.org/e/20050101a/
http://watchtower.org/e/jt/

Answer 2

There's nothing to figure out. As has been mentioned in the various responses to your question, everyone in the family of Jacksons did not become a dedicated, baptized Jehovah's Witness. Of the children, only the oldest daughter and Michael became baptized Witnesses. Of the parents, the mother was a baptized witness; the father never became one although he would accompany his wife and family to the Christian meetings.

The children were raised with this background but children must themselves dedicate their lives to God and symbolize that dedication by public baptism in order to actually be a Jehovah's Witness. In other words, going to Christian meetings, reading an Awake magazine or refraining from celebrating Christmas does not make one a Witness any more than speaking in French makes one French.

Of the three who became Witnesses, Michael is the one who publicly announced that he was no longer one of Jehovah's Witnesses. This occurred back in the 80's.

As for the oldest daughter, Rebie, she apparently is still a Witness. She prefers to stay out of the spotlight as is the general practice of Jehovah's Witnesses.

So the Jacksons, although long associated with Jehovah's Witnesses, were not all Jehovah's Witnesses.

Hope this helps you out.

Hannah J Paul

Answer 3

I believe the mother was a Witness. I do not think the whole family embraced the faith. That being said, there was a time in the early 20th century when Witnesses did celebrate Christmas, but a deeper understanding of the Bible and a wish to please the Almighty God Jehovah was the reason for doing away with the Christmas celebration. Here is some information on the subject.

http://www.watchtower.org/library/w/1999/3/15/article_01.htm

http://www.watchtower.org/library/w/2000/12/15/article_01.htm

http://www.watchtower.org/library/rq/article_11.htm

Answer 4

If the Jackson's were Jehovah's Witnesses they wouldn't have done so. As a family there is nothing to indicate that they ALL were Jehovah's Witnesses. In light of the behavior of some of them, one would have to think about any claim made for the entire family.

Answer 5

The Jackson father was not a Witness of Jehovah. And just because he insisted on a tree didn't mean the rest of them participated.

Michael was a witness at one time...the congregation that went to his hall treated his as they would anyone else. Remember only Jehovah reads the heart. Michael may come back and serve Jehovah. We are not to judge.

Answer 6

I know some Jehovah's Witnesses who celebrated xmas. They have a meal and do the presents but keep it simple. They do not believe the religious aspects of the holiday. They were not always of this religion so I imagine they just kept some of the traditions they always had.

Answer 7

They were not, only the mother.

Micheal studied to be a witnesses but left.

Answer 8

Why? Because they wanted to.

Isn't that why anyone does something?

What Jacksons?

Reggie?

Andrew?

Jessie?

Answer 9

JW don´t celebrate christmas because Jesus don´t command it and his birth was in October.

Answer 10

I like Michael so much. It is a shame he has such low self esteem.